CHOOSING A REAL ESTATE AGENT

Buying a home requires making many important financial decisions, understanding complex issues, heavy negotiations, and completing a lot of paperwork. Often it is an intricate dance requiring timing, problem solving, strategizing, and poise. It is imperative you have an expert in your corner when undertaking such a large purchase.

3.1 Choose your Turning Point Real Estate Inc. Agent

You will find many wonderful brokers to select from by visiting OUR BROKERS section of the web site. You will find a true professional to fit your needs. We know how big of a decision this is for you and we focus on making this as enjoyable and successful of a transition for you as possible. Our experience and supreme focus on delivering excellent customer service provide us the foundation to win your business and referrals for a lifetime. With Buyer Agency, each agent is trained to guide you through the process by paying close attention to what your needs are. We listen first, and then utilize our knowledge and experience to expound upon your needs to deliver a final product that hopefully exceeds your expectation. We pay particular attention to your resale ability and help to point out things that are easily overlooked when emotions take over. We strive to help you avoid potential problems ahead of time. We look to negotiate strongly on your behalf by pulling comparable home sales in the area, pulling past listing history on the property, and pulling the Seller’s mortgage loan history. We make sure you understand the loan you are interested in and the fees subject to that loan. We also walk you through the contract so you understand it and your obligation throughout it. As a Buyer Agent, we are your advocate and sounding board.

3.2 Buyers Agency vs. Transaction Brokerage vs. Customer

Once you have selected your Turning Point Broker, you then have some choices to make.

Do you want to have a Buyer Agency agreement with your agent that promotes your interests with the utmost good faith, loyalty, and fidelity? Your agent would negotiate on your behalf and would act as your advocate. A buyer’s agent must disclose to potential sellers all adverse material facts actually known by the buyer’s agent including the buyer’s financial ability to perform the terms of the transaction and, if the buyer intends on occupying the property. A separate written buyer agency agreement is required which sets forth the duties and obligations of the broker and the buyer.

Do you want to have a Transaction-Broker agreement where the broker assists the buyer and seller or both throughout a transaction by performing terms of any written or oral agreement, fully informing the parties, presenting all offers and assisting the parties with any contracts, including the closing of the transaction without being an agent or advocate for any of the parties. A transaction-broker must use reasonable skill and care in the performance of any oral or written agreement, and must make the same disclosures as agents about all adverse material facts actually known by the transaction-broker concerning a property or a buyer’s financial ability to perform the terms of a transaction and, if the buyer intends to occupy the property. No written agreement is required.

Do you want to be a Customer? This is your choice by representing yourself. A customer is a party to a real estate transaction with whom the broker has no brokerage relationship because such party has not engaged or employed the broker, either as the party’s agent or as the party’s transaction-broker.

3.3 How Does Your Agent Get Paid?

Not by you! The Seller or the Listing agent almost always pays the agent for the Buyer. In some rare cases a Buyer can be responsible but you should read the Buyer Agency/Transaction Brokerage Agreements very carefully. Ask your agent how it works.